Weft detecting system for pick and pick automatic loom



1959 R. G. TURNER 7 2,897,846

WEFT DETECTING SYSTEM FOR PICK AND PICK AUTOMATIC LOOM Filed March 51, 1958 INVENTOR RICHARD G. TURNER ATTORNEY United States l atent WEFT DETECTING SYSTEM FOR PICK AND PICK AUTOMATIC LOOM Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 31, 1958, Serial No. 724,935

7 Claims. (Cl. 139-232) This invention relates to improvements in weft detecting systems for pick and pick weft replenishing looms.

Pick and pick weft replenishing looms have been proposed wherein the vertical direction of transfer of the incoming bobbin is the same as the direction of shift of the shuttle boxes and in such looms it is necessary to provide a path for the outgoing bobbin. If shuttle boxes are rigid with respect to each other and transfer is to take place into the top box, then any shuttle box under the top box must be empty to provide a path for the outgoing bobbin. This condition prevents the storing of an inactive shuttle at the replenishing end of the loom on the transferring beat. To overcome this limitation it has been proposed to make the top box upwardly sepa rable from the lower boxes to provide a path for the depleted bobbin being expelled.

.In such looms it is necessary to determine in advance when proper conditions for transfer exist at the magazine end and this has been accomplished in the past by assigning a part of the pattern chain to control the weft detecting system so that a replenishing operation cannot be initiated unless the top shuttle box at the magazine end is in low shuttle-receiving position. When control for initiation of transfer is assigned to part of a pattern chain there is a possibility that this part of the chain, which does not determine the positions of the boxes, can be out of step with the boxes at the magazine end and permit transfer at a wrong time when the top box is not in low position. To correct this condition it is, an important object of my invention to determine directly from the shuttle boxes at the magazine end whether proper conditions exist for bobbin transfer.

In one form of the invention the top separable box or a part connected to and moving with it, effects closure of an electric'switch in a controlling electric circuit only when the top box is in its low shuttle-receiving position so that indication of weft exhaustion by the weft detector on the opposite end of the loom can properly initiate a replenishing operation; If the top shuttle box is in any position above its lowest position its switch will be open and the controlling circuit will not be closed even though the detector indicates weft exhaustion. The shuttle boxes below the top box cannot close the switch regardless of their position.

In another form of the invention a switch at the magazine end is placed under the several shuttle boxes and is closed only when all of the boxes are in their lowest position, this being the position corresponding to low shuttle-receiving position for the top cell.

By deriving control for the aforesaid circuit directly from the shuttle boxes there is no need for the aforesaid part of the pattern chain, and furthermore, there is no chance that a mistake which might otherwise be made in assembling such a part of the chain can result in defective operation.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the two embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a loom having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, showing the preferred form of the invention with the shuttle boxes at the magazine side of the loom in their lowest position,

Fig. 3 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but showing the modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing electric circuit means which can be used with the invention.

Referring to Fig. l, the loom frame 1 supports a lay 2 the left-hand end of which is provided with a layend 3 to accommodate a gang of four shifting shuttle boxes or cells. This gang, indicated at GL, is raised and lowered by a force transmitted through a box lifter rod 4 so that each of the cells, designated from top to bottom at 5, 6, 7 and 8, can be aligned with the shuttle race 9 of the lay on any beat of the loom.

.The lay is reciprocated in usual manner and passes successively through the usual four center positions which may be considered as beginning at the bottom center with the lay moving forwardly, followed by front, top and; back centers and then returning to bottom center to complete one beat of the loom. When the lay is moving from bottom to top center the loom may be considered to be in its box shifting period and when the lay is moving from top to bottom center the loom may be consideerd to be in its shuttle flight period.

The opposite or right-hand side of the loom is provided with a multi-color reserve weft magazine M which will have the usual stacks of reserve bobbins under control of a color calling mechanism (not shown) and this side of the lay is provided with a layend 10 which in the present instance accommodates three shuttle boxes or cells the lower two of which, 11 and 12, may be considered a subgang or subcell structure SG the vertical position of which is determined by forces transmitted through a box lifter rod 13. The upper box or cell 14 is upwardly separable from the subgang SG by a motion independent of the subgang. During the greater part of operation of the loom, however, the top box 14 will rise and fall with the subgang and therefore be positioned by rod 13. The subgang may have vertical guide tubes 15 to receive lifter rods 16 connected to the forward part of the top box 14. The lower ends of rods 16 are secured to a lifter bar 17 which is raised and lowered by force applied to a rod 18. The magazine is of the stationary type and is mounted in a relatively high position at such an elevation that when the box 14 is in its high position to receive a reserve bobbin from the magazine at least one of the boxes of the subgang can be in active picking position with a space above it and under box 14 to provide a path for the outgoing bobbin.

Shuttle boxes of the type shown herein mounted at the magazine or right-hand end of the loom may be made as set forth in prior Patent No. 2,777,473 to Litchfield, or as shown in copending application Serial No. 625,788 filed by Kimmel. Since the present invention is related only to the weft detecting system it is not believed necessary to give an extended description of the operation of the box motions in view of the two references just mentioned and it is believed sufficient to state that when a weft replenishing operation is to occur the subgang and box 14 must be in their lowest position in order to enable the oncoming depleted shuttle from gang GL to enter box 14, and immediately upon arrival of the shuttle box 14 will be promptly raised to its high position directly under the magazine by mechanism not shown but acting through rod 18 and similar to, those set forth in the aforesaid references so that transfer can take place at or near the front center position during the box shifting period immediately following arrival ofthe shuttle.

Any approved form of weft detecting system can be employed at the left-hand side of the loom such for instance as a photoelectric feeler 20 mounted on an upright 21 bolted or otherwise secured at 22 to the underside of the layend 3. The detector 20 moves backwardly and forwardly with the lay but does not rise and fall with the shuttle boxes, remaining in position to register with the box of the gang GL which is in active shuttle picking position aligned with the receptacle 9. The weft detector preferably gives its indication, if depletion exists, upon substantial completion of the shifting of the gang GL just prior to picking, control for this time of operation being derived from a cam-operated switch 48 which will be mentioned hereinafter. Weft detectors of this type are shown for instance in my prior Patents Nos. 2,026,147 and 2,026,149 The present invention is not limited to photoelectric weft detectors, and the detector system shown in the aforesaid Kimmel application can be used, if desired.

The matter thus far described may be as set forth in the aforesaid patents or in the pending application and except as noted hereinafter forms no part of the present invention.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 an electric switch 30 is mounted on the lower end of adepending support 31 which is secured at 32 to the underside of the layend 10. This switch has a plunger 33 in position to be depressed in order to close the switch by the lifter bar 17 already described and secured adjustably to the lower ends of the rods 16. The lifter bar, serving here also as a switch closer, need not be especially made for adaptation to the present invention. When the top box 14 is in its low shuttle-receiving position bar 17 will depress the plunger 33 to effect closure of switch 30. The latter is normally open and will be in that condition whenever box 14 is above its lowest position and so located that it cannot receive a shuttle arriving from the left end of the loom. V

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 a normally open electric switch 40 is secured at 41 to a layend similar to layend 10 and has an upwardly extending depressible plunger 42 for engagement with the lower part of the bottom box or cell 12 of the subgang SG. Whenever the latter gang is in its low position corresponding to shuttle-receiving position of the box 14 the plunger 42 will be depressed to close switch 40, but whenever the gang SG is in a higher position than that shown for instance in Fig. 3 the plunger 42 will rise and switch 40 will open.

In both the preferred and modified forms of the invention the switches, 30 or 40, will be closed only when the shuttle boxes at the magazine end of the loom are in their low position, the switch in the preferred form being closed by direct action of box 14, or a part moving with it, while the switch in the modified form is closed by the subgang when the latter is in its low position.

The control electric circuit means used with the invention includes the photoelectric weft detector and the shuttle box closed switches and other operating parts of the loom set forth diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The photoelectric detector 20 is connected a shown to the grid 45 of a Thyraton tube 46 the plate 47 of which is connected to the previously mentioned normally open switch 48 closed by a loom-operated cam 49 at or upon completion of the box shifting period. This cam makes one rotation each beat of the loom, thus opening the plate circuit every beat to prevent continued firing of the tube, and the detector is capable of indicating Weft exhaustion on any beat of the loom.

The detector relay DR is ordinarily deenergized, bu whenever the photoelectric cell 20 indicates weft exhaustion it will cause the tube 46 to fire with resultant energization of the relay DR and closure of the normally open switch 50. Upon closure of this latter switch electric current will flow from a transformer T over wires 51 and 52 through a holding relay HR, through wire 53, switch 59, wire 54, one or the other of the previously described switches 30 or 40, provided it is closed, through switch 56 temporarily closed by cam 57, and then back by way of wire 55 to the transformer. Switch 56 opens every beat but is closed by loom driven cam 57 each beat and held closed long enough to complete setting of the loom for bobbin transfer.

The holding relay, when energized by closure of switch 50, closes a normally open switch 62 against two contacts 63 and 64. Contact 63 is part of a holding circuit and enables current from the transformer T to flow through wires 51 and 52, holding relay HR, switch 62, contact 63, and wires 65 and 54 back to the transformer, switch 56 still being closed.

The other contact 64 is electrically connected to two electromagnet means or solenoids 70 and 71 the first of which controls a pin 72 normally out of the path of a control lever 73 forming part of the magazine M and having a reciprocation every beat of the loom. When the controller pin is as shown in Fig. 4 a down motion of the right-hand end of lever 73 is not interrupted and rod 74 remains unmoved in normal position, but upon energization of solenoid 70 the pin 72 is moved to the left to interrupt down motion of said right-hand end and causes down motion of rod 74, whereupon initiation of transfer occurs. This part of the operation may be as set forth in the aforesaid Kimmel application.

Solenoid 71 controls a hook 75 normally out of the path of a regularly moving actuator 76 which has a rising and falling motion every beat of the loom. Whenever solenoid 71 is energized it rocks the hook 75 to the left over the actuator 76 and is lifted by the latter, whereupon mechanism similar to that shown in the aforesaid pending application causes a rapid upward motion of box 14 to its high transfer position.

Solenoid 70 is connected to contact 64 by wire 80 and to wire 51 by wire 81. The circuit through solenoid 70 is via wires 51 and 81, solenoid 70, wire 80, contacts 64 and 63 which are electrically connected through switch 62, wires 65- and 54, switch 30 or 40, switch 56 (closed at this time), and wire 55 back to the other side of the transformer.

Similarly the circuit for solenoid 71 is via wires 51 and 85, solenoid 71, wire 86 and thence through contacts 64 and 63 back to the other side of the transformer. The solenoids 70 and 71 are thus in parallel.

In the operation of the invention the shuttle will be picked back and forth according to a predetermined order and whenever a shuttle is in active position in the left-hand gang GL the photoelectric detector will have a detecting operation just before the shuttle is picked to the magazine end. If the shuttle detected has an ample supply of weft the detector will not indicate weft exhaustion, but if the shuttle is depleted of weft then the detector relay DR will be energized resulting in energization of the holding relay HR and its holding circuit, and also energization of solenoids 70 and 71, provided switch 30 or 40 is closed. These energizations occur at the beginning of the flight of the shuttle from the left-hand'end of the loom toward the magazine end and if box 14 is in its low shuttle-receiving position switch 30 or 40 will be closed and upon arrival of the shuttle in box 14 the magazine will have previously been set for transfer and the mechanism including hook 75 and actuator 76 will then lift box 14 to its high position. At about this time cam 57 will effect opening of switch 56 and relay HR will become deenergized and the pin 72 and hook 75 will return to their normal positions. The loom Will then be reset for another operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple means by which proper conditions for a bobbin transfer are determined directly from the position of box 14 or the subgang, depending upon whether switch 30 or 40 is used. There is therefore no need for extra spacers and indicators in the pattern chain mechanism of the loom and there is no possibility of a misindication growing out of a mistake in building the pattern chain. While a photoelectric weft detector has been shown the invention is not necessarily limited to such a detecting means. The mechanically actuated electric detector fingers as shown in the previously mentioned co-pending application can be utilized with the present invention and in fact any suitable detector can be used at the left end so long it is capable of operating on any beat of the loom and gives its indication with respect only to the shuttle next to be active. Only three shuttles S1, S2 and S3 have been shown in the drawings, but it is to be understood that looms operating as contemplated herein will ordinarily have more than three shuttles callable in any desired order so that any shuttle can be picked on either an odd or an even numbered beat of the loom. The solenoids 70 and 71 are electromagnetic means by which the magazine and cell 14 are caused to operate as described upon closure of the electric circuit means shown in Fig. 4.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in which manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a weft detecting system for a pick and pick weft replenishing loom having a lay and shifting shuttle boxes at each end and a reserve weft magazine at one end, the shuttle boxes at said one end comprising a sub-cell structure of at least one shuttle cell and an upper shuttle cell vertically separable from said sub-cell structure and having shifting movement from a low shuttle-receiving position to a high transfer position to receive a bobbin from the magazine, electric weft detector means at the opposite end of the loom effective on any selected beat of the loom to detect the weft in the shuttle next to be picked to said one end, normally open electric circuit means including the detector means, electromagnetic means controlled by the circuit means effective when the latter is closed to cause said shifting movement of said one cell to its high position to receive a bobbin from the magazine, the shifting boxes at the magazine end being in low position when said one shuttle cell is in low shuttle-receiving position, and a normally open electric switch on the lay at the magazine end in said circuit means closed by said last named shifting boxes when the latter are in low position only and when thus closed, provided the detector means indicates weft exhaustion, closing said circuit means.

2. The detecting system set forth in claim 1 wherein said one cell when in its low position only effects closure of said switch.

3. The detecting system set forth in claim 1 wherein the switch is on the lay under said sub-cell structure and is closed by the latter when in its low position only.

4. The detecting system set forth in claim 1 wherein the lay has a layend with respect to which the shuttle boxes at the magazine shift and said switch is mounted on the layend.

5. In a weft detecting system for a pick and pick weft replenishing loom operating with a plurality of shuttles and having a lay and shifting shuttle boxes at each end and a reserve bobbin magazine at one end, the shuttle boxes at said one end comprising a sub-gang of at least two shuttle cells and an upper shuttle cell vertically separable from said gang and having a shifting movement from a low shuttle-receiving position to a high transfer position to receive a bobbin moved downwardly from the magazine into the cell, electric Weft detector means at the opposite end of the loom effective on any selected beat of the loom to detect the weft in the shuttle next to be picked to said one end, normally open electric circuit means including said detector means, electromagnetic means controlled by the circuit means elfective when the latter is closed to effect said shifting movement of said one cell to its high transfer position to receive a bobbin from the magazine, the shifting boxes at the magazine end being in low position when said one cell is in low shuttle-receiving position, and a normally open electric switch in said circuit means closed by said last named shifting boxes only when the latter are in low position and regardless of whether shuttles are in or absent from the sub-gang, said switch when thus closed, provided the detector indicates weft exhaustion, closing said circuit means.

6. The detecting system set forth in claim 5 wherein said switch is mounted on the lay in position to be engaged and closed by a part fixed with respect to said upper cell when the latter is in its low position only, the cells of said sub-gang being incapable of closing said switch.

7. The detecting system set forth in claim 5 wherein said switch is on the lay beneath said sub-gang and is closed by the latter when in its low position only.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,445,641 Scpavich July 20, 1948 2,446,747 Dion et a1 Aug. 10, 1948 2,609,845 Turner Sept. 9, 1952 2,777,474 Litchfield Jan. 15, 1957 

